'''Carnen''' &mdash; [[Sindarin]] for '''Redwater''' &mdash; is a [[river]] that flows southward from the [[Iron Hills]] east of the [[Lonely Mountain]] until it meets the [[Celduin]] about 250 [[Númenórean]] miles to the south. From there the rivers flow as one to the [[Sea of Rhûn]], past the land of [[Dorwinion]].

+

'''Carnen''' &mdash; [[Sindarin]] for '''Redwater''' &mdash; was a [[Rivers|river]] that flowed generally southward from the [[Iron Hills]] east of the [[Lonely Mountain]] until it met the [[River Running|Celduin]] about 250 [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] miles to the south.<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref> Its course lay in the boundary region between "The North" (the northwestern region of [[Middle-earth]]) and the vast "East" (the area called [[Rhûn]]).<ref>{{UT|Istari}}</ref>

−

It is not exactly clear what the name of the river is past the point where Celduin and Carnen meet, but the map suggests that Carnen becomes the name of the combined river. Although the area was not mapped by Tolkien the Carnen must have flowed past many villages of [[Men]], as the Men of [[Dale]] and [[Esgaroth]] traded with someone in the region.

+

Between the time when [[Thráin I]] founded the dwarf-kingdom in the Lonely Mountain (in {{TA|1999|n}}) and the arrival of [[Smaug]] (in {{TA|2770|n}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref>) the Northmen living between the Celduin and Carnen grew strong and repelled all eastern enemies.<ref>{{App|Durin}}</ref> This area became depopulated after the arrival of the dragon but again filled with Northmen after Smaug's demise. During the [[War of the Ring]] the northern host of [[Sauron]] crossed the Carnen and drove the forces of King [[Brand]] back to [[Dale]].<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref>

+

+

==Carnen or Celduin &mdash; Which River Flowed into the Sea of Rhûn?==

+

In none of the maps that showed Rhovanion (in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', the [[A Map of Middle-earth|Pauline Baynes' Map]], or the ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'') was it made clear what the name of the river was from the confluence of the Celduin and the Carnen to the Sea of Rhûn. However, in the Index to the ''Unfinished Tales'' [[Christopher Tolkien]] included information about the ''Carnen'': "'Redwater', river flowing down from the Iron Hills to join the River Running" and the ''Celduin'': "River flowing from the Lonely Mountain '''to the Sea of Rhûn'''".<ref>{{UT|Index}}</ref> Per these statements it was the Celduin that flowed to the Sea and the Carnen was but one of its tributaries.

Between the time when Thráin I founded the dwarf-kingdom in the Lonely Mountain (in 1999) and the arrival of Smaug (in 2770[3]) the Northmen living between the Celduin and Carnen grew strong and repelled all eastern enemies.[4] This area became depopulated after the arrival of the dragon but again filled with Northmen after Smaug's demise. During the War of the Ring the northern host of Sauron crossed the Carnen and drove the forces of King Brand back to Dale.[5]

Carnen or Celduin — Which River Flowed into the Sea of Rhûn?

In none of the maps that showed Rhovanion (in The Lord of the Rings, the Pauline Baynes' Map, or the Unfinished Tales) was it made clear what the name of the river was from the confluence of the Celduin and the Carnen to the Sea of Rhûn. However, in the Index to the Unfinished TalesChristopher Tolkien included information about the Carnen: "'Redwater', river flowing down from the Iron Hills to join the River Running" and the Celduin: "River flowing from the Lonely Mountain to the Sea of Rhûn".[6] Per these statements it was the Celduin that flowed to the Sea and the Carnen was but one of its tributaries.